PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Ware (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ware
vs
Norris

160 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nickolas Ware!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Charles Norris!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris doesn't manage to clinch there - Ware circles away.
As Norris tries to get set, Ware tries to push him back and clinch up but Norris manages to avoid the attempt.

Norris throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ware was covering up waiting for the punch and Norris finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ware isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Norris stacks Ware on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Norris!
Norris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ware keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ware tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Norris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ware keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ware is looking to regain half guard here but Norris keeps moving and retains side control.

Norris tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Norris has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Norris is trying to get an arm triangle but Ware is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Norris tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Norris creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ware sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ware tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Norris wants to stand but Ware has his arm trapped.
Norris wants to control but Ware is keeping him busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ware haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Norris scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Norris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ware. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ware is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Norris is stalling here. Ware is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Norris seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ware has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ware works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris taking a bit of punishment here - Ware scoring with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Norris can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ware is working Norris over with some ground and pound from side control.

Ware tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ware has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Norris tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Ware lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ware trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ware controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charles Norris will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Norris stuffs the takedown.

Norris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Norris wants to control from the top but Ware keeps moving.
Norris pushes down on Ware's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Norris passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Norris is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ware has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ware!
Charles Norris has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ware landing some decent shots from guard.
Ware sitting in guard here, content to control.
Norris keeping moving, preventing Ware from controlling successfully.
Ware trying to stand up but can't free himself from Norris's guard.
Ware throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ware content to stall in guard here.
Ware postures up and lands a big shot to Norris's brow.
Ware distracts Norris with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Norris has a closed guard, preventing Ware from standing up.
Ware lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ware trying to control but Norris is working from the bottom.
Ware might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Norris isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ware stacks Norris on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ware!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ware remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Ware decides to stand up, so the ref orders Norris to his feet.

Norris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Norris lands in his opponent's guard.
Ware has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Ware working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Norris doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Norris manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norris avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Norris wants to control from the top but Ware keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Charles Norris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ware gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ware has his foot on Norris's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Norris works his way back into a safe position though.
Ware doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Norris stays in close to Ware's body and controls the position.
Norris wants to pass the guard but Ware is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ware is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Norris defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris wants to stand and escape but instead Ware has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ware lands a couple of elbows.

Norris has an active guard here but Ware has managed to pass into half guard.

Norris is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ware pulls his head out easily.

Ware postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Norris to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norris gets the takedown into side control.
Ware is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Norris off and has taken his back!
Norris is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Norris covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Ware controls the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Norris wants to control his opponent's hands but Ware gets his hands free.
Ware controlling well, preventing Norris from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
What can Norris do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Norris is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Ware controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Norris is trying to break free.
Norris wants to get back to his feet.
Norris trying to control the position but Ware manages to sink in the hooks.

Norris defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ware working for a choke but Norris is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nickolas Ware showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Norris has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Charles Norris!